This May, the Goldman Environmental Foundation brought together 23 African Prize recipients in Arusha, Tanzania, for a big reunion at the ELAW international meeting. The meeting included public interest environmental lawyers and scientists from different countries who came to share knowledge, skills, and strategies on how to successfully protect the global environment.

The conference was the first of its kind for me to attend. It was highly beneficial and I enjoyed the interaction with environmental lawyers and the many colleagues working in conservation. I also learnt a lot from other front-line defenders on how on many occasions they have endured hardships to save some of the most endangered ecosystems of the world. Many lessons were learnt from their personal and hands-on field experience.

Field Trip to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Our group’s trip to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area gave me an opportunity to learn how the Tanzanian government has managed to integrate local pastoralists, the indigenous Maasai people, and wildlife.

The crafts and weaving by the local people were communally marketed together with their traditional dancing in one place. This is something I have taken back home and will apply in our newly created community nature conservancy.

Crafts and weaving inside Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Collaboration and Networking

At the conference, I was able to connect with environmental lawyers coming from the southern part of Africa and explore how we can strengthen networking in the region and improve joint advocacy on natural resource law and policy that enhances the promotion of human rights, especially for communities that are collectively staying on communal lands. As a result of this meeting, my task now is to start identifying young people in higher learning institutions to start considering conservation work as a career option. This will help create a wider and stronger network of highly motivated young people who will have the desire to defend the environment for generations to come.

It was highly inspirational to meet so many people who, in many cases, I had only interacted with through mail and pictures. The three days of meeting was truly a reunion with a common purpose.

Hammarskjoeld Simwinga received the Prize in 2007 for his innovative efforts to stop illegal wildlife poaching, which in turn bolstered community economic initiatives. Today, Simwinga continues to work on conservation issues through his organization, Foundation for Wildlife and Habitat Conservation, which promotes the sustainable use of natural resources and creation of economic opportunities for rural communities in Zambia.

]]>Q&A with Khanh Nguy Thihttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/qa-with-khanh-nguy-thi/
Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:20:35 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8603In April 2018, Khanh Nguy Thi became the first person from Vietnam to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Her research-based, collaborative approach to advocating for sustainable long-term energy solutions in Vietnam is helping to move the country toward a greener energy future. Read her Q&A below to learn how she’s supporting Vietnam’s energy transition.... Read More

]]>In April 2018, Khanh Nguy Thi became the first person from Vietnam to be awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize. Her research-based, collaborative approach to advocating for sustainable long-term energy solutions in Vietnam is helping to move the country toward a greener energy future. Read her Q&A below to learn how she’s supporting Vietnam’s energy transition.

Goldman Environmental Prize: What motivated you to start working toward cleaner energy in Vietnam?

Khanh Nguy Thi: Having grown up just miles away from a core power plant in the countryside [of northern Vietnam], I saw many people in my family and community have serious health issues. This motivated me to find solutions to avoid repeat situations. After studying the issue and learning that the government had large-scale plans to build coal plants, I started to think about how I can contribute in positive ways.

Khanh (center) with colleagues at GreenID in Hanoi

GEP: Can you tell us more about Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA), a network of 11 Vietnamese environmental NGOs that you founded?

KNT: VSEA is a coalition of Vietnamese and internationally-based organizations working in Vietnam. These NGOs are committed to promoting energy deployment in the country. There are now more than 10 members now, and we also have individual members that are experts in diverse fields, including climate change, sustainability, energy planning, renewable energy, education, health issues, and legal issues.

GEP: How does it feel being one of the few women working for this cause in a male dominated society?

KNT: It can be challenging at times, especially when working with experienced men in the power sector. However, in my work, I believe I reflect the concerns of citizens and women in the field. I am not an engineer or scientist, but I use an evidence-based approach in my work. Through my research, I saw that I needed to tell the truth on environmental issues affecting all Vietnamese citizens. Eventually, the media became supportive of my position, and I began getting asked for interviews. The more I spoke on these issues, the more confidence I gained, and I earned the support of experts in the network.

Khanh stands before the Cam Pha Power Plant in the Quảng Ninh Province

GEP: What are you currently working on now?

KNT: I continue working with my team at GreenID, the environmental organization I founded, to support the energy transition in Vietnam. Our goal at GreenID is to help renewable and sustainable energy solutions become important parts of the country’s energy sector. I also recognize the value of renewables for the poor and hope that future policy changes will provide stronger support for citizens to participate in the energy transition. Focusing on this transition will solve many pollution issues, leading to a better quality of life through improved water and air in Vietnam. What has been a key takeaway is the impact of meaningful engagement with stakeholders. Always listen to the opinion of different stakeholders to find the right way to deliver messages and build solutions.

GEP: What advice do you have for people who want to make a difference?

KNT: When a citizen who has a good idea works hard to make this idea happen, they will have a positive impact on the nation’s development. It is important to commit and make the idea happen.

]]>In the Field: Meeting a Champion of Clean Energy in Vietnamhttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/meeting-clean-energy-champion-khanh-nguy-thi/
Wed, 18 Jul 2018 17:02:46 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8564This is a blog post by Program Officer Lindsey Freedman, who writes about her visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, to meet with 2018 Prize winner Khanh Nguy Thi, who used scientific research and engaged state agencies to advocate for sustainable long-term energy projections in Vietnam. In January 2018, I traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, to meet with... Read More

]]>This is a blog post by Program Officer Lindsey Freedman, who writes about her visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, to meet with 2018 Prize winner Khanh Nguy Thi, who used scientific research and engaged state agencies to advocate for sustainable long-term energy projections in Vietnam.

I warmed up to Hanoi’s winter weather by dining on local cuisine with Khanh (left) and her family

In January 2018, I traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, to meet with 2018 Prize winner Khanh Nguy Thi. To my great surprise, I landed in the middle of a winter storm for which I was completely unprepared. Yes, I had checked the weather before my trip, but for some reason thought that my impression of Vietnam as a year-round tropical paradise was far more accurate than several different forecasts based on science and weather patterns. I had definitely not packed enough warm clothes (but had plenty of sundresses and sandals), and my sinking feeling was quickly compounded by the fact that I had inadvertently booked my hotel for the correct dates…but the wrong year.

Khanh with a map of hydropower, thermal, and coal plants in Vietnam (at the GreenID office)

While my arrival made me feel a bit frazzled, I couldn’t have asked for a better host. Khanh and her family welcomed me with open arms: I was treated to a home-cooked meal (in addition to being a mother, wife, sister, friend, and leader of one of Vietnam’s few environmental NGOs, Khanh is also an excellent cook!) and they also drove me about an hour outside of the city for a traditional lunch in the countryside. Khanh saved me by lending me a giant orange and white jacket that came down nearly to my knees. Now better prepared for—and insulated against—a Hanoi winter, I spent the next few days in a delightful whirl through this chaotic city full of motorbikes, delicious cuisine, and, yes, smog. Being accustomed to San Francisco’s foggy days, I thought at first that Hanoi was just as cloudy as my home base. It didn’t take long, however, to realize that the thick billowy “clouds” I was seeing were actually pollution from the 20 coal plants that ring Hanoi.

During my visit, I learned more about Khanh’s background and her years of work both in the Mekong Delta and on Vietnam’s energy issues. I was fortunate enough to meet the dedicated staff of GreenID and learn more about Vietnam’s energy plans. GreenID has a map of all the current and planned hydropower, thermal, and coal plants on their wall. The vast majority of these plants are located on or near the coast, and their negative effects disproportionately impact the nearby communities that depend on the sea for survival.

The view of Hanoi from above

Seeing the sheer quantity of proposed power plants made me realize just how important Khanh’s advocacy is and will continue to be as she helps Vietnam transition to a cleaner energy future. It was my great honor to be able to spend time with this incredible activist who is working tirelessly not only for a better Vietnam, but also for a better world.

Lindsey Freedman is the program officer for Europe and Asia at the Goldman Environmental Prize. She assists Prize winners from these regions prior to and during the Prize tour, and visits them in their home countries before they come to the US.

]]>Prize Winners Network at the ELAW Annual Meeting in Tanzaniahttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/prize-winners-network-at-the-elaw-tanzania/
Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:20:52 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8531This May, 23 Goldman Environmental Prize winners joined fellow defenders of the earth from 42 different countries at the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) annual international meeting, in Arusha, Tanzania. In addition to gathering an unprecedented number of Prize winners in one place, the conference was a significant meeting of the minds on environmental law and advocacy,... Read More

]]>This May, 23 Goldman Environmental Prize winners joined fellow defenders of the earth from 42 different countries at the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) annual international meeting, in Arusha, Tanzania. In addition to gathering an unprecedented number of Prize winners in one place, the conference was a significant meeting of the minds on environmental law and advocacy, with topics ranging from climate change to land grabs and the safety of environmental defenders. Three members of our staff also attended: Executive Director Mike Sutton, Deputy Director Lorrae Rominger, and Program Officer Myriah Cornwell. Below are our favorite quotes and photos from Prize winners during the conference.

“Being amongst the Prize winners, one could feel a particular energy, the kind of energy that made me feel privileged to be part of the group.” — Makoma Lekalakala, 2018 Prize winner from South Africa

“This was my first time meeting the most number of the Goldman Prize family members since 1990 when the Prize was given out for the first time. The experience also truly refreshed and re-energized me in my work among our communities in Malayasia.” — Harrison Ngu (1990), Malaysia

“Garth and I were highly motivated and energized by meeting you all, as well as humbled by your work and your sacrifices. And wonderful to re-unite with people we last saw nearly 20 years ago! We cannot stress how beneficial this is for all of us, it’s like meeting family.” — Margaret Jacobsohn & Garth Owen Smith (1993), Namibia

“We managed to catch up with our brothers and sisters, put faces to names and learn from each other while making new acquaintances. We do get encouraged, motivated and eager to continue to do our parts in ensuring our world becomes a better place for all – current and future generations – when we meet like this.” — Nat Quansah (2000), Madagascar

“Of the many meetings and workshops I have attended, this one really energized me and made me feel even much stronger in my spirit to meet and see so many Goldman family members who are still dedicated to save our mother earth, despite all the difficulties and challenges we all face.” — Hammer Simwinga (2007), Zambia

“I gained enormous benefits from meeting with different Goldman Prize winners in one room and hearing first hand their struggles that they experience daily in their areas of work. More importantly it helped me realize the solidarity we can develop as a collective group.” — Desmond D’Sa (2014), South Africa

“When visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, I realized there are men and women fighting to preserve the wildlife in the crater and seeing the amazing and high numbers of large and small mammals, from now on I will fight for the national parks of Congo to follow this excellent model.” — Rodrigue Katembo (2017), Democratic Republic of Congo

“We benefited from this renewed connection and information sharing. It was also valuable to network with other winners, share our experiences and learn from one another. Learning about the experiences of other winners was rejuvenating but also gave us some insights on strategies we can utilize.” — Fatima Jibrell (2002), Somalia

“For me and my country, it was a big achievement to host many Prize winners and have such a wonderful workshop. I learned more through fellow Prize winners and together some of us have agreed to develop shared projects in future.” — Edward Loure (2016), Tanzania

]]>Prize Winner Edward Loure Champions Indigenous Women Pastoralistshttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/edward-loure-ucrt-accelerator/
Tue, 26 Jun 2018 21:52:17 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8522Based in his native Tanzania, 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize winner Edward Loure’s organization Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT) has worked on community land rights and sustainable development in the country’s northern region for over 20 years. A champion of land rights and indigenous communities, Loure serves as UCRT’s Program Coordinator for the Simanjiro district. This... Read More

]]>Based in his native Tanzania, 2016 Goldman Environmental Prize winner Edward Loure’s organization Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT) has worked on community land rights and sustainable development in the country’s northern region for over 20 years. A champion of land rights and indigenous communities, Loure serves as UCRT’s Program Coordinator for the Simanjiro district.

This June, Loure has campaigned to raise funds for UCRT through Global Giving’s Accelerator program. A leading crowdfunding platform, Global Giving’s Accelerator provides organizations the skills and resources needed to activate supporters and strengthen key programs. UCRT’s campaign focuses on strengthening its partnership with the Women’s Rights and Leadership Forum in Mureru Village, which empowers indigenous women agro-pastoralists through innovative income generation projects. Through the end of June, you can make a positive impact on UCRT and the economic empowerment of women agro-pastoralists in Tanzania.

]]>Snapshots from the 2018 Goldman Prizehttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/snapshots-2018-goldman-prize/
Fri, 01 Jun 2018 21:44:52 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8462Just one month ago, seven individuals from six countries received the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize and garnered the world’s attention for their remarkable environmental achievements. With the addition this year of Makoma Lekalakala, Liz McDaid, Khanh Nguy Thi, Claire Nouvian, Manny Calonzo, LeeAnne Walters, and Francia Márquez, the Goldman Prize community now includes 188 Prize... Read More

]]>Just one month ago, seven individuals from six countries received the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize and garnered the world’s attention for their remarkable environmental achievements. With the addition this year of Makoma Lekalakala, Liz McDaid, Khanh Nguy Thi, Claire Nouvian, Manny Calonzo, LeeAnne Walters, and Francia Márquez, the Goldman Prize community now includes 188 Prize winners from 87 countries. They are a phenomenally talented, inspiring, and diverse group of leaders.

“Regular people from Vietnam to Colombia have proven once again that it takes only one person with a spark to fight back.” – Susan Gelman, President, Goldman Environmental Foundation

We are grateful to our network of nominating organizations, partners, and supporters for making the Prize happen year after year. We look forward to sharing updates on the 2018 winners, as well as our 30th anniversary celebration in 2019.

Below are some of our favorite photos and videos from the 2018 #GoldmanPrize celebrations.

]]>How to Support the 2018 Goldman Prize Winnershttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/take-action-2018-goldman-prize-winners/
Tue, 08 May 2018 19:19:59 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8423Are you feeling inspired by the achievements of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize winners and want to get involved? Read on below to find out how you can support Prize winners, or check out their profile pages to learn more. Africa: Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid Support the work of their organizations, SAFCEI (Liz) and Earthlife Africa (Makoma),... Read More

]]>Are you feeling inspired by the achievements of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize winners and want to get involved? Read on below to find out how you can support Prize winners, or check out their profile pages to learn more.

Help support LeeAnne’s work to expand her model of citizen scientists across the country through US Water Study Research, her new project in partnership with collaborator Professor Marc Edwards of Virginia Tech.

LeeAnne and other Flint residents are raising funds to provide bottled water for the most vulnerable Flint residents—the elderly, disabled, and home-bound—since the State ceased to provide bottled water.

]]>Announcing the 2018 Goldman Prize Winnershttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/2018-goldman-prize-winners/
Mon, 23 Apr 2018 14:30:52 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=8273We are thrilled to introduce the Goldman Environmental Prize winners for 2018! Each of these individuals has moved mountains to protect the environment and their communities, and changed the world in ways large and small. Get to know these incredible Prize winners and learn more about how you can support their work. Makoma Lekalakala and... Read More

]]>We are thrilled to introduce the Goldman Environmental Prize winners for 2018! Each of these individuals has moved mountains to protect the environment and their communities, and changed the world in ways large and small. Get to know these incredible Prize winners and learn more about how you can support their work.

As grassroots activists, Makoma Lekalakala and Liz McDaid built a broad coalition to stop the South African government’s massive secret nuclear deal with Russia. On April 26, 2017, the High Court ruled that the $76 billion nuclear power project was unconstitutional—a landmark legal victory that protected South Africa from an unprecedented expansion of the nuclear industry and production of radioactive waste.

Khanh Nguy Thi used scientific research and engaged Vietnamese state agencies to advocate for sustainable long-term energy projections in Vietnam. Highlighting the cost and environmental impacts of coal power, she partnered with state officials to reduce coal dependency and move toward a greener energy future.

A tireless defender of the oceans and marine life, Claire Nouvian led a focused, data-driven advocacy campaign against the destructive fishing practice of deep-sea bottom trawling, successfully pressuring French supermarket giant and fleet owner Intermarché to change its fishing practices. Her coalition of advocates ultimately secured French support for a ban on deep-sea bottom trawling that led to an EU-wide ban.

Manny Calonzo spearheaded an advocacy campaign that persuaded the Philippine government to enact a national ban on the production, use, and sale of lead paint. He then led the development of a third-party certification program to ensure that paint manufacturers meet this standard. As of 2017, 85% of the paint market in the Philippines has been certified as lead safe.

LeeAnne Walters led a citizens’ movement that tested the tap water in Flint, Michigan, and exposed the Flint water crisis. The results showed that one in six homes had lead levels in water that exceeded the EPA’s safety threshold. Walters’ persistence compelled the government to take action and ensure that residents of Flint have access to clean water.

A formidable leader of the Afro-Colombian community, Francia Márquez organized the women of La Toma and stopped illegal gold mining on their ancestral land. She exerted steady pressure on the Colombian government and spearheaded a 10-day, 350-mile march of 80 women to the nation’s capital, resulting in the removal of all illegal miners and equipment from her community.

]]>The Green Belt Movement: 40 Years of Impacthttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/green-belt-movement-wangari-maathai/
Wed, 21 Mar 2018 20:39:30 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=7940For Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the powerful work of female Goldman Environmental Prize winners. This blog is a guest post by the Green Belt Movement, an organization founded by Prize winner Wangari Maathai (Kenya, 1991) that empowers communities, especially women, to protect the environment. In Africa, as in many parts of the world, rural women deal... Read More

]]>For Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the powerful work of female Goldman Environmental Prize winners. This blog is a guest post by the Green Belt Movement, an organization founded by Prize winner Wangari Maathai (Kenya, 1991) that empowers communities, especially women, to protect the environment.

In Africa, as in many parts of the world, rural women deal with multiple stresses as an integral part of their daily lives. This is because they are in charge of most of the domestic and livelihood activities and most of their time is spent on tasks like looking for food, water, and collecting firewood.

Increased deforestation has not only meant increased desertification, but it has also meant that women have had to travel further afield in order to collect firewood. This in turn has meant less time around the home, tending to crops, and looking after their children. Responding to these challenges, Professor Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977, primarily working with women in environmental conservation and community empowerment in Kenya.

Starting with seven seedlings on World Environment Day in 1977, the Movement soon began a widespread tree-planting strategy in which over a thousand seedlings were planted in long rows to form green belts of trees, thus marking the very beginning of the Green Belt Movement.

Looking back over the 40 years, the journey has by no means been easy, with efforts to repress the Green Belt Movement between 1989 and 1999. Starting in 1989, the Green Belt Movement’s advocacy efforts thwarted a 60-story development from being built in Uhuru Park, a 34-acre public green space in the heart of Nairobi. In 1992, just after the project was abandoned, Uhuru Park became the site of a hunger strike to secure the release of political prisoners, at which Professor Maathai was beaten unconscious by police. Again, in January 1999, leading a protest against the privatization of Karura Forest in Nairobi, members of the Movement were beaten bloody by private guards hired to prevent them from entering the forest.

“Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it, and make it survive, you haven’t done a thing. You’re just talking.” — Wangari Maathai

Despite these and numerous other hurdles along the way, the Green Belt Movement persevered and, to date, hundreds of thousands of women have become involved and over 5,000 nurseries have been established. More than 51 million trees have been planted—on farms, in schools and churches, along rivers, and in the countryside.

Over the years, the Green Belt Movement and its founder have received numerous accolades for the key role of environmental rehabilitation and linking sustainable development, peace, and democracy through tree planting. Professor Maathai was one of six individuals worldwide to be honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize in 1991 and, to crown it off in 2004, received the Nobel Peace Prize “for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.”

Today, the Green Belt Movement’s work has continued to evolve, with the goal of furthering our efforts across our four thematic areas of work: tree planting and watersheds, gender livelihood and advocacy, climate change, and mainstream advocacy.

Founded in 1977 by Professor Wangari Maathai, the Green Belt Movement (GBM) has planted over 51 million trees in Kenya. GBM works at the grassroots, national, and international levels to promote environmental conservation; to build climate resilience and empower communities, especially women and girls; to foster democratic space and sustainable livelihoods.

]]>Women River Defendershttps://www.goldmanprize.org/blog/women-river-defenders/
Wed, 14 Mar 2018 23:28:29 +0000https://www.goldmanprize.org/?p=7919In honor of Women’s History Month and International Day of Action for Rivers, we’re highlighting five Goldman Prize-winning women who have worked to protect bodies of water from environmental destruction. As noted by our nominating partner, International Rivers, Day of Action for Rivers celebrates environmental wins such as dam removal and river restoration, informs about... Read More

]]>In honor of Women’s History Month and International Day of Action for Rivers, we’re highlighting five Goldman Prize-winning women who have worked to protect bodies of water from environmental destruction. As noted by our nominating partner, International Rivers, Day of Action for Rivers celebrates environmental wins such as dam removal and river restoration, informs about the threats to rivers and how to take action, and remembers those who have made profound sacrifices in defense of our earth.

Christine Jean (1992, France)

In 1980, plans were made to build a dam on the upper part of the Loire River—the longest waterway in France—also known as the last wild river of Europe. With the building of the main dam threatening the ecology and livelihood of the area, Christine Jean led citizens in a successful movement to oppose the development. Through her leadership, the French government canceled plans for the dam in January 1994.

Dai Qing (1993, China)

A journalist by trade, Dai Qing fearlessly opposed the Chinese government’s construction of the Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze River. In 1989, Qing spoke out against the project in the press and published a collection of essays by Chinese scholars opposed to the dam. Her actions helped apply pressure on the government to postpone the plan, though, during the process, she was banned from publishing and jailed for 10 months. Despite public opposition, China began work on the dam in 1994 and opened it in 2003. Qing’s perseverance and sacrifice in the fight for environmental justice continue to resonate deeply today. International Rivers notes that the Three Gorges dam is one of the world’s most notorious dams, displacing over a million citizens and creating lasting environmental destruction. Learn more via International Rivers.

Ikal Angelei (2012, Kenya)

Ikal Angelei organized indigenous communities around Kenya’s Lake Turkana to oppose the Gibe 3 Dam, which, if completed, would be the largest hydroelectric plant in Africa. Likened to China’s Three Gorges Dam, the Gibe 3 Dam would cause the lake’s water level to drop by as much as 23 to 33 feet within the first five years. Angelei’s advocacy helped secure an environmental assessment of the dam by the Kenyan Parliament, in addition to convincing major banks to withdraw support. She continues to champion environmental issues in Kenya as the director of Friends of Lake Turkana. Follow Angelei on Twitter for more updates.

Ruth Buendía (2014, Peru)

Belonging to the Asháninka tribe of Peru, Ruth Buendía was 12 years old when her father and thousands more were killed by guerrillas invading their indigenous land. Buendía was sent to Lima to seek safety, and later returned to take part in her community’s healing through the Asháninka Center of the Ene River (CARE). Buendía eventually became CARE’s first female president and, with her team, led a powerful campaign against large-scale hydroelectric dams in the Amazon that would have uprooted indigenous communities still recovering from Peru’s civil war. Buendía rallied indigenous groups and raised awareness of the dam project on an international scale, which persuaded the Peruvian Ministry of Energy to cancel the project.

Berta Cáceres (2015, Honduras)

A beloved indigenous leader of Honduras’ Lenca people, Berta Cáceres rallied her community and waged a grassroots campaign that successfully pressured the world’s largest dam builder to cancel the Agua Zarca Dam, which would have been built along the sacred Gualcarque River. Founder of the National Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH), Cáceres devoted her life to protecting and advocating for her Lenca community. On March 3, 2016, she was assassinated in her home, an event that sparked international outcry and magnified the dangers environmental defenders face on the front lines. Her legacy as an indigenous leader, anti-dam activist, and environmental hero continues to be celebrated the world over. To learn more about her story and impact, watch the film Mother of All Rivers, or follow @justiceforberta on Twitter for updates from her family.

It is our honor to recognize these heroes and shed light on their mission to safeguard rivers, halt destructive dams, and uplift communities. In celebration of these winners from across the globe, we share these words from of Monti Aguerre, friend of Berta Cáceres and Latin America campaigner for International Rivers: “Today, on the 21st International Day of Action for Rivers, a plethora of actions manifesting the importance of rivers and why they need to be protected and celebrated is taking place.We are very proud to work alongside the many women, like dearly missed Berta Cáceres and Ruth Buendía who stood forward to protect the rights of rivers and the livelihoods of many communities. Their vision and courage have in turn empowered many women and men through the world to defend rivers and to carry the message that water is not for sale; water is to be loved and protected.”